Ferguson Police Release Name of Michael Brown Shooter, Details of a Robbery

A Ferguson Police officer named Darren Wilson, an officer with six years on the force and no disciplinary record, is the officer who shot and killed Michael Brown on Saturday, says chief Tom Jackson.

Jackson released Wilson's name to the media as well as information about a strongarm robbery that occurred just before Brown's death. Brown was a suspect in the incident, and Dorian Johnson, who has been vocal about witnessing Brown's death, is also a suspect, according to information released by police.Update 2:20 p.m.: Police say Johnson will not be charged in the robbery.

Around 11:40 a.m., an officer, now identified as Wilson, arrived at a sick call in the Parkridge Apartments. At 11:51 a.m., there was a 911 call from a nearby convenience store -- not the QuikTrip in Ferguson that was later burned and looted, the chief says -- for a robbery. At 11:52 a.m., dispatch released a description of the robbery suspect: a black male in a white T-shirt.

Update 2:20 p.m.: Police say Wilson did not approach Brown because of the robbery. He approached Brown about walking in the street.

At 12:04 p.m., a second officer arrived at the scene, and at 12:05 p.m., a supervisor was dispatched to the scene.

According to security-camera images and information released by police, a suspect identified as Brown appears to physically intimidate a store clerk to steal a box of Swisher Sweets cigars valued at about $50.

I'm pleased that the people of Ferguson and the region began to get some long-overdue information today, and I will continue to call for openness and transparency as the parallel investigations into this tragedy proceed to their necessary conclusions. For the sake of the family, the citizens of Ferguson, and the entire region, it is vital that the investigations into the shooting death of Michael Brown move forward in a thorough, open and transparent manner to ensure that trust is restored and justice is done.

Update 9:45 a.m.: Daily RFT reached out to attorneys for Michael Brown's family and relatives. We were able to reach Pastor Charles Ewing, Brown's uncle, and this is all he would say: "I have no comment right now. I can't talk right now. I'm just so upset."

Ever since Brown was shot and killed Saturday afternoon, police response has angered a community already consumed by mournful fury at the death of a teen who was starting college in the fall. Some Ferguson protesters cited the obtuse police response to neighbors' questions about Brown's killing, combined with a history of mistrust between the mostly black community and mostly white police force, as justification for the looting and violence that swept this quiet St. Louis suburb this week.

As the investigation began Saturday, Brown's body was left uncovered outside, a move even Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson said made him uncomfortable. Jackson explained by saying nearby gunshots interfered with the on-the-scene investigation into his death.

When the community demanded the name of the officer who shot brown, police had to refuse, citing the ongoing investigation. By Monday, police agreed to release the name but quickly changed their minds, citing threats on the lives of the officer.

As police delayed releasing the officer's name, the chiefs of Ferguson and St. Louis County's police forces also secretive about the number of times Brown was shot. When asked by reporters, St. Louis County Chief Jon Belmar told reporters, "more than just a couple, but I don't think it was many more than that."

Police were also slow to talk to a key witness in the investigation, Dorian Johnson, who was with Brown when he was killed.